Valve mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



A. 1. SEAMAN. VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. I914.

Patented June 15, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. I. SEAMAN.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION mu) OCT. 15. 1914.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

wlrzeases: 172021207";

f/ a 70 {I 7 ,1 V I 4 I T? i m/fl [J 7 40 I W Will/ll 0 li/d ITED STATES P T' O F AL R 'J; SEA a'N; or BoSToN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssmNoR o SEAMAN ENGINE COMPA Y, or BOSTON," MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION orv MASSACHUSETTS.

B iti-l'cno'ivn that'I, mm .1. 'SEAiiiAN, a zenI-fof the 'Unite'd States, residing v Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an 'Impi'oveiient 2 in Valve -'lif[echanism for In? ternal-Combustion Engines; of which the following'is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in valveqnecl anisin for internal combustion engines for controlling the inlet and ex: haust, 'an'd is. intended as an improvement upon the \-'alve-niechanism-of my 'applica-- tion -#735-,378, filed December 7, 1912. vThe valve-mechanism oif' said app lication co n-- prises a casing having a pair of alin'ed' frusto-conical valve-seats having ports-communicating withflthe engine-cylinder, apair of hollow frus'to-conical valve-bodies adapted for engagement with said sea-ts having ports to iiiove into registerWith'thev ports in the caSing 'when 'otated, and driving- .mea'ns arranged betweensaid valve-bodies 'fOI rotating them. In the structure shownin'niy said application the fneans employed for rotating said valve-bodies consists of interni'eshing spiral gears, one of which-is secured to oneof the valve-bodies-and the other to a positively'driven shaft, and such form of driving-means, while especially well suited to the purpose, has a tendency to thrust one of the valve-bodies longitudinally with a result that one of the bodies soon too loosely fits its seat and the other too tightly fits its seat.

My present invention. has for one of its objects-"to improve the construction of the driving-means; whereby there is no tendency to were either valve-body longitudinally, or if there is such a tendency it is equally in for another object the provision of an im- -nrored fLFF'li'i of conn,-:ting-means for the equalized.

remitted to both valve-bodies; also in the:-

v LvE M CHANISM FoR'INTERNALcoMBUsTIoN EN I ES.

in engagement with their seats,- said ineans Specification Letters Patent." 7 15 1915 4 Application filed October i5, 1914. Serial No. 866,739. A I

having associated with it a thermal cornp'en- I I sat-ing-device which acts up'oi'i'a rise inteinperature to lengthenit, therehyadmi'tting' of expansion of the valve-'bodiesand casing while still firmly causing said bodies engage their seats,i the contact pressure be-. ing maintained substantially constant and provision of ineans associated-with the-connecting-means for the yalve-bodies for. talc-- ing up the 'wear.-

The invention has provision ofanfl improved form of oilingmeans forthe'val'verbodiesif for another-object the Figure 1 is a central'longitiidinalvertical' sect on of a valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines l embodying this invention. Fig. 21s a horiZonta-l section of the v same taken on the dotted line-2.;2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an end view:of thefsamej Fig 4: is 5 .a-"transverse fvertical section of the same taken on the dotted lin'e H, igl- 1- Fig. is a transverse vertical-section .of the same taken on' the dotted line-5.5, Fig. 1. 6

is an. enlarged detail View of a portion of the oiling-means. Fig. 7 is afdetail'view of the thermal compensating-devicelin expand ed condition. p i

As here shown for the purpose of.illustrating one embodiment of my invention, 10

represents a portion of an engine-cylinderhaving a valvecasing 12, arranged at or mounted uponitsv upper end. Thercasing '12 is provided with apairof alined frustoconical recessespr alve-seats and '15, arranged with their smaller en'cls"- ad acent each other and separated by a bridgewall. Rotatably mounted in: said recesses are a pair of hollow frustoconical valve-bodies 16 and 18. T'hese'valvebodies are open at their outer ends and are provided at" their inner ends with a wall 20,having a polygonal center-hole through it. The valve. body 16 is provided with a. port 36 in its side wall, which is adaptedto be brought into register with a'= port 38, wh'ich'communicates with the top of the cylinder 10. This port in the present instance may be the exhaust-port. llhe valve-body 18 is provided with a small port 36, which is adapted to be brought into register with a port 4-0,

which also communicates with the top of the cylinder lO.- This port in the present instance-may serve as'the inlet-port. The

halve-body 18 may communicate with any suitable supply of combustible to control the admission of the-latter to the cylinder and the valve-body 16' may communicate with ail-e Zlti'IlOSPllGlG. A polygonal shaft 60 ex tents longitudinally through a. hole in the 3;; lyridgeqvall, between the alincd yalve-seats,

wl-ieh'sha'ft projects a short-distance from eat-n side of said-wall, audits proJecting end-portions enter the polygonal centerholes in thewalls 2'0 ofthe valve -bodies,' thereby proriding for a connection of said valie-bodies with said shaft, wherebythev arc rotated by said shaft, and-permitted to slide longitudinally -thereon. i

The. shaft 60 has fixed to; it a spiral-gear .the bridge-wall for free rotation. This form 1' t, there is no tendency .tothrust the'valvecum to thrust one more than'the other.

or means ext-ended through said shaft, i'iCll connect-ing-n'ieans isfiof a charactei" whereby it is '-subject-' .to automatic tel ierature control. As here shown aid :ting-means comprises-,along bolt 70, Q head atoneend and a nut with a internallythreaded shank-at the other and said bolt is ei:tende u through the -hcle in the shaft 60-, and projects Between the head of said bolt "all of one ofthe valve-bodies ers Ti and 7'3 are arranged, one or more being employed, as desired, and the 55, zlQl' or: washers 71 may be composed of and the washer or washers 7-3 composed of steel, or in lieu 2 other materials having 7 ditl'er e 2.110s of expansim ma} .be employed 3 washers are made. of a diameter much r t n the shaft (30, to extend over the .P. of the end wall of the valve- 0 as to serve as a, means for holdour infplacon the shaft.

alter or ,Washcrs 71 have th ir 46 which' engagesa-spiral-gear 50; which recesses n the bridge-wall and it may be otherwise supported inof. driri'ne-means l-ttlflSlllllJS its power to, cot-h va'lve-bodies substant ally ahlze, so

ts longitudinally on at'least'n'o tend-- "he sire-bodies arc hel'd'in' place-on the rem at each end into or through the sides or faces admccnt' the-washer or wash-' ers 72 formed with circular recesses and the edges of tlle recesses are beveled asshown,

and the Washer or washers 72 have their sides; or faces adjacent the washeror wash (its 71 lormed with beveled edges as shown.

and the beveled edges of thewashers 71 and 7-2 engage each other, but the Washers 72 do not bottom in the circular recesses in the.

washers 71, so thatther'e is a definite space 'between them at such-points. 1 hesew'ashcrs completely fill the space between the head-of the bolt and-the end wall 0 off the valve-body andwhen at sayroom empe'rature, are inthe aggregateof a predc ermineal cesses in the washers 7-1, andthus to 'educe c :r ha i disia i n e 0. th gg're it rce fioi ndt V the set of washers and admit of a one wash ers Tito more nearly bottom in he rc.-;

sponding' relief of the'x'al-vebody'an also of the otlicr ialve-body, as will bedescribed,

permitting both ralve-bodies'to expand and still maintam'a substant allyl-constant 'con- =tact-pressurc with theirvalve seats.

A flat washer 73 is arranged on'the other cud portionof the bolt. 70, ti hich-is in'ade of a diametefla'rge enough to' extend over the inner face of the endwall '20 of the 'valve- 006.518. and a 'ld'ngsleeve This splined on the shanl:-1 )ort1 cnof saidbolt, one end of which abuts against; said washer :a'fnd the other end terminates. in engztg'enientiyjvith a long 'sleerelikcnut .75, which is screwed onto the threaded endp'orti'on' 0f the bolt, said nut holding the'sleeve 74; firm engagement with the washer 73', and-holding said washer in engagement with the end wall of the valve-body, thus 'clamping'the several parts in. assembled condition. To tightly hold said nutin engagement with the sleeve it is made automatically adjustable, and, as

here shown, a torsion-springis arranged on the exterior of the shank-portion of the nut, one end of'whichis connected-to the nut and the other cnd is connected to the sleeve," and said sp'ringis placed in position under tension, so thatit always acts torsional-ly in a direction to turn the nut up tightly and thus firmly hold the parts assembledwith The oiling-means here shown consists 1n channels 90 formed in the valve-casing, having slots by which said channels are in open communication with the valve-seats, and said channels with their slots extend from end to end of the valve-seats or thereabout, and the inner ends of said channels are in open communication with a well 91 formed in the easing, inwhich well the driving-gears are .arranged, and the outer ends of said channels are in open communication with passages 92, extended through the casing, into which passages pipes 93 are screwed, which pipes are connected with an oil supply and pump of any suitable description, not shown, thus forming a circulatory system for the oil. Each hannel is preferably circular in cross-s ction and has arranged in it a long spiralairing 94s, one end of which is arranged to abut against a stop and the other end is engaged by a screw-plug 95, having a hole through it, arranged to engage a threaded portion of. the channel, and turning of said plug acts to more or less com- }j.=ress the spring. The spring itself forms a tubular or cylindrical conduit for the oil and the ccn olutions thereof are arranged over the slot nd afford a plurality of na row spa iroi gh whicl the oil passes}, thus controlling the deliver of oil to and thi'o h the slot, the greater the compression of he spring the smaller the spaces and the lesser the delivery 0f oil. In order to obtain access to the screw-plug 95, the channel 90 is open at itsouter end, which opening is closed by a screw-plug 95, and removal of said screwplug 96, uncovers the screw-plug 95.

1. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines-comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-conical valve-seats arranged with their ends adjacent each other and separzfied by a bridge-wall and having inlet and outlet ports, a pair of hollow frustoconical valve-bodies arranged in alinement in engagement with said seats, said valve.- bodies 11 ving inlet and outlet ports, a rotatable Ziaftnpon which both said bodies are mounted for rotation with the shaft and for axial movement on said shaft, and means to rotate said shaft, substantially as described. I

2. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-conical valve-seats arranged with their ends adjacent each other and separated by a bridge-wall and having inlet and outlet ports, a pair of hollow frusto-conical valve-bodies arranged in alinemcnt in engagement with said seats, said valve-bodies having inlet and outlet ports, a polygonal shaft having cylindrical bearing-portions arranged. for rotation in said bridge-wall, upon the end-portions of which said bodies are mounted for rotation with the shaft and for axial movement with respect to the shaft, and gearing for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

3. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-conical valve-seats, a pair of hollow frusto-conical valve-bodies engaging said seats, means to connect said valve-bodies together whereby they are rotatable'in unison, said means including a thermal compensating-device by whichthe connecting means is lengthened and shortened upon changes in the temperature, substantially as described.

4. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-conical val 'e-seats, a pair of hollow frusto-conical va ve-bodies engaging said seats, and a center-bolt connectlng said valve-bodies together hav ng thereon a set of washers composed% of materials of different ratios of expan ion, said washers being arranged for mdvement with respect to each other upon changes in temperature thereby to vary the r aggregate thickness, substantially as descr bed.

5. A valve-mechanism for i ternal combustion engines comprising a casing ha 'ing a pair of alined frusto-conical t'alve-seats, a pair of hollow frusto-conical valve-bodies engaging said seats, a center-bolt connecting said valve-bodies together having arranged thereon between its head and one of the valve-bodies a set of Washers composed of materials of different ratios of expansion, said washers being arranged for movement with respect to each other upon changes in temperature, thereby to vary their aggregate thickness, substantially as described.

6. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-comcal valve-seats, a pair of hollow frusto-co ical valve-bodies engaging said seats, and cans arranged to connect said valve-bodies together whereby they are rotatable in unison, said means including a set of washers composed of materials of diiferent ratios of expansion, some of the washers having circular recesses in their sides with beveled edges and others having beveled edges for engagi g the beveled edges of the recessesofth aforesaid washers, but not bottoming in said recesses, whereby the washers are permitted to reduce in aggregate thickness upon expansion diametrically due to a rise in temperature, substantially as described.

"7. A valve-mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a pair of alined frusto-conical valve-seats, a

, pair of hollow frusto-conical valve bodies engaging said seats, a center-bolt arranged to connect said valve-bodies together having a nut arranged on its threaded end-portion and a torsion-spring connected to said nut fni' cm'ni 11g it to take up the wear, subs-Laintl. 13' as described.

in an internal combustion engini; combination of :1 easing 1* fllhviOiOlllCi!l \alw Lil's 211:1 COlllJ-il lJUdli a llLGLl in engug said seats, channels :11 winged in e l. (JUlllIillllllCilllin \ilh each 0 Lil. and few 1 :1 part of a eulnem'y 3 stem, innliming slats coinnmniezii'ing with the miw-sml and spimhsgi'ings arranged in said elmnnei; which em'er the slots and conli'el the (le livery of oil throng; 1 Lhen; L0 the vziluezjjnis emielil bodies arrange-mil in \%1"1 ",H1Ql1if niih said seals, (rhni'ineis Ul'lQIDgQKl in ihe easing eeminunieziting ix ith each other and forming: a part of :i circulatory system, and having slots communicating with the valve-seats, and spiral-springs arranged in said channels which COYQL the slots and control the de liYei-y of oil Elli-0P Lhein t0 the \'al\e-sezil's, and means in compress said springs to vary the nine-lint 0%. oil delivered, substantially as. deseriljied.

In an internal (ZOIUbUSIl I engine, the enmhinzii'ien of 21 easing having alined frusmwnieal valve seats and a Well 11'- l'ietvseen mid alined frustm ll i\1,-b'0(li5 an: ,d in engagement llCl seats, means connecting said valve SSH:

:l dii'vil means in K the Eli eh (.1 he in '12: e; W-iw.

i ll :inels having she-v via 1 0; i1 eeiniininieat' 3 said ali l.llll:5 jloi'ni 01 s mtein, rind s n-n1 e 7 channels over the Si \iizi zn eunlwi the (iiEllX y of oil tlllOi slan snlwie; "Jilly 'desibed.

11. A. retutzihle min; did a valve- 51 r-h it engages. .ia illiifll n a easing easing having 21 channel mil; 5! slot C\ )Ii UlCHl'iilLf Willi ihe see; and :2 spiral s which ii engages Lovmed iii 7, easing having :1 channel wish :1 slot mnnnee nicziting with the seat. and ii spiral spring arranged in seid channel over said slot for controlling the delivery of oil through said slot. and means to vary {he length of said SQl'lllg and thereby to eoiirespondiizgiy Yin the sizes oi the spaces between the ('nnYOli (ions thereof, snbsmni'ially as described.

In testiinor" wliei'eo'l', I have signed in name to this pCL' l kiltlt)11. in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT J. SEAMAN.

Witnesses H E. {)U'LS, B. J. News. 

